Dairy farmer versus scientist in row over rivers

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Federated Farmers dairy head has called a top scientist an eel
expert who doesn't like farmers, while the scientist has accused
him of talking red herrings.

The row developed on TV ONE's Breakfast after Massey
University's Dr Mike Joy called for New Zealand to place a cap on
the number of cows in different river catchments.

Joy told the programme dairying is having a hugely negative
impact on the country's environment. He said nitrogen inputs into
the land have increased by 800% in the last 20 years with farms
leaking nitrogen into streams.

He said more than 60% of New Zealand's freshwater fish are on
the threatened species list, the pollution has a direct impact and
the dairy boom is out of control.

But Federated Farmers dairy chairman Lachlan McKenzie hit back,
saying Joy does not like farmers and was just expressing one
opinion.

He said even the Prime Minister had said it was only Joy's
opinion when interviewed about the scientist's statements on the
BBC's Hard Talk programme in London earlier in the year.

Joy had said at the time that New Zealand is delusional about
how clean and green it is because species are threatened with
extinction and half the country's lakes and 90% of lowland rivers
are now classed as polluters.

"The facts are that introduced species have a significant effect
both on land and in our aquatic systems, " McKenzie said.

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McKenzie held up a report he said shows that algae growth has
decreased in rivers monitored between 1999 and 2006 and described
Joy as "an expert on eels".

McKenzie said invasive "invasive species" that have been
introduced into New Zealand waterways, such as carp in Waikato
lakes, have affected the aquatic environment significantly.

He asked Joy: "Which of the universities, schools, hospitals
does he want to shut down because 70% of our income comes from
primary production. I talk facts, he talks his opinion."

McKenzie accepted that cows walking into streams cause problems
but said that's why a massive fencing programme has been introduced
under a Clean Streams Accord.

"And that's why the majority of cows now are fenced out of
waterways in New Zealand".

But Joy said everything McKenzie had said could be classified as
a red herring.

"He's just taking away from the reality. This idea that these
invasive species are having some sort of impact is just not true."
Joy said, referring to McKenzie's claims about carp degrading
waterways.

Joy said the outcomes of the Clean Streams Accord are not
measured and the intensification of dairying is what has had the
biggest effect on the environment.

"You should think of the Clean Streams Accord as just an
education programme. There's no way that that can have the outcomes
that will clean up the streams. Every measure of what's happening
to our fresh water in New Zealand is showing declines."

Nowhere in New Zealand is there an improvement in fresh
waterways, Joy said.